58 BRITISH FISHERIES 



to form district fisheries committees. On the 

 application of a littoral county or borough council, 

 or of two or more of these bodies, the Board was 

 empowered to issue, after due inquiry, an order 

 constituting a district sea-fisheries committee, 

 and defining the area over which such a committee 

 had jurisdiction. The members of these bodies 

 were to be members of the councils, with the 

 addition of representatives from the Boards of 

 Conservators,^ and of members nominated by the 

 Board of Trade and representing the fishery 

 interests — the fishermen, fishing -boat owners, 

 and fish-salesmen of the neighbourhood. Their 

 powers for the regulation of the fisheries are 

 fairly extensive, and they may make by-laws, 

 which, however, do not become operative until 

 confirmation, after due inquiry, by the Board of 

 Trade.^ The expenses of administration are met 

 by a rate imposed on the area returning the 

 members. The Act of 1888 was amended, and 

 further powers were given to the committees, 

 by the Fisheries Act of 1891,^ which also gave 

 them powers to enforce the Shell-fish Act of 

 1877;* and by the Sea-Fisheries (Shell-fish) 

 Regulation Act of 1894.^ 



The enactments we have been considering 

 have practically fixed the present position of 



1 The local authorities having charge of the salmon and fresh-water 

 fisheries. ^ Now the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. 



8 54 and 55 Vict. c. 37. * 40 and 41 Vict. c. 42. 



* 57 and 58 Vict. c. 26. 



